A Waseda University research group has developed a hydrogen-carrying polymer, which can be molded as a tangible, safe, and compact plastic sheet. The Tokyo research group’s newly developed a polymer can store hydrogen in a light, compact and flexible sheet, and is safe to touch even when filled with hydrogen gas.

A sheet of the fluorenone and fluorenol hydrogel on a 5 g scale and the fluorenol sheet sealed up with a gas-barrier bag (after hydrogen releasing). Image Credit: Waseda University, Tokyo. Click image for the largest view.

A sheet of the fluorenone and fluorenol hydrogel on a 5 g scale and the fluorenol sheet sealed up with a gas-barrier bag (after hydrogen releasing). Image Credit: Waseda University, Tokyo. Click image for the largest view.

Although research and development on technology allowing hydrogen to become a major energy source has been going on for many years, the conventional methods of storing and carrying hydrogen were accompanied by safety risks such as explosions.

The research study paper was been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Recently, hydrogen-absorbing organic compounds have been studied as storage materials, for their ability to stably store and release hydrogen through chemical bonding. However, these compounds require vessels or tanks maintained at high pressure and/or temperature and often encounter difficulty in releasing the hydrogen gas. Widespread commercialization of hydrogen as an energy source requires a safer and more efficient system for storing and carrying it.

Led by Professors Hiroyuki Nishide and Kenichi Oyaizu of the Department of Applied Chemistry, the team developed a ketone (fluorenone) polymer, which can be produced as a thin sheet, and can fix hydrogen via simple electrolytic hydrogenation in water at room temperature. Furthermore, the fluorenol polymer can release hydrogen when heated to 80º Celsius with an aqueous iridium catalyst. The group proved that under mild conditions the cycle of fixing and releasing hydrogen can be repeated without significant deterioration.

The advantages of the ketone/alcohol polymer include easy handling, moldability, robustness, non-flammability and low toxicity, pointing the way to the development of a light, thin plastic container that can be carried in your pocket. The new material is also expected to contribute to the creation of distributed energy systems, especially in remote areas.

Sounds good. The hydrogen folks are sure to check this out in fine detail. Fine enough will take time, but this technology might be what breaks out the hydrogen economy into the mass market.


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